LOS ANGELES – Cicely Tyson was a Black actor who knocked down doors so other women of color could walk through them.
With dignified grace, Tyson strategically selected powerful roles with an intent to elevate the perception of Black actors in films such as “Sounder” and on TV with “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.” She strived to shatter stereotypes and inspired many Black actresses along the way to follow her footsteps.
A younger generation of Black actors — Viola Davis, Kerry Washington and Zendaya among them — all paid homage to Tyson after learning of her death at age 96 on Thursday.
Davis said Tyson made her feel “valued in a world where there is still a cloak of invisibility for us dark chocolate girls.” Washington felt Tyson